Patterson Companies Inc, St Paul, Minn, has named Patterson Dental CEO Paul Guggenheim as the company’s chief innovation officer. According to a press release, the new corporate role charges Guggenheim with exploring and deploying technologies to “impact the business, strategic planning to unlock new growth opportunities, and establishing practices across Patterson designed to cultivate and commercialize market breakthroughs.”
Guggenheim has been with Patterson Companies for more than 16 years in a range of executive positions. Prior to Patterson Companies, he was president of Guggenheim Brothers Dental Supply Co, which Patterson acquired in 2000.
“I am delighted at the opportunity to bring a more intense focus on innovation—both within our organization and for our customers—to Patterson Companies. We have made fundamental changes to our business over the past year and now operate two highly complementary businesses focused on new and evolving market opportunities. At this pivotal point, the time is right to make market innovation a larger focus area for Patterson in order to build on our leadership position,” Guggenheim said.
As Guggenheim takes on his new role, Scott Anderson will oversee the dental business on an interim basis, supported by Ann Gugino, executive vice president and chief financial officer, who will take over operational leadership of the dental segment.
